THE Royal British Legion is issuing an urgent plea for more poppy sellers because their veteran volunteers have become too old for duty.

Organisers say they also struggle to overcome charity fatigue as the November poppy day competes with the BBC's Children in Need for the contents of people's pockets.

The legion yesterday enlisted the help of Cardiff City footballers to attract more young people to the cause.

It wants to double the number of volunteers in Cardiff and swell the ranks by at least 10% across the rest of Wales.

Albert Howe, 72, who was stationed with the Royal Signals in Germany in the 1950s, said the Poppy Appeal is desperate for new recruits.

"We are struggling. We could do with a hell of a lot more people," he said.

Mr Howe, president and standard bearer for the Llanrumney and St Mellons Royal British Legion in Cardiff, said once dependable volunteers are disappearing.

"Over the years we have lost people that we cannot replace. We could do with another 10 people.

"But once people pass over - illness, death, mobility - they can't serve any more. There's nobody to coming on to take their place.

"We do find ourselves struggling to be honest. We need people to go out and sell poppies."

Hugh Jones, field manager for Wales and Ireland, said the legion was facing fewer members every year.

"We recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of D-Day, so most of those men and women would be over 80, so that's another aspect of it," he said.

Claire Williams, a legion welfare officer from Cardiff who has worked for the organisation for 25 years, said people are willing to donate, but are less enthusiastic about standing in the freezing November rain to collect money for the Poppy Appeal.

"The public is happy to give, but they don't see it as their responsibility to collect," she said. "We are trying to get more poppy sellers to help with the appeal. We have got about 50 volunteers in Cardiff and we are looking to double it. Nationally we are trying to increase it by about 10%.

"Safety is an issue too. We are doing door-to-door collection. It's just not safe for our volunteers to be out there knocking on doors.

"We are in competition with other major charities at that time as well, like Children in Need.

"Volunteers are getting older. They are not as fit and can't carry out their duties in a way that they would wish because of age and infirmity."

Yesterday Cardiff City and Wales footballers James Collins and Paul Parry joined legion members at the Queen's Arcade shopping centre in Cardiff to entice a younger generation to the movement.

Mrs Williams said, "We are trying to promote the image among younger people."

But despite the image crisis and dwindling number of supporters, the poppy remains a potent symbol.

"It's our method of fundraising, but it's also the face of remembrance," Mrs Williams said.

Founded in 1921, the British Legion supports people who have served in the armed forces and their families. There are 11 million people currently eligible for help.

Appeal raised record #21.4m

LAST year the British Legion raised #622,000 in South Wales and #289,000 in North Wales.

The Poppy Appeal raised a record-breaking #21.4m last year.

More than 38 million poppies, 98,000 wreaths and sprays and 730,000 remembrance crosses are made at the poppy factory in Richmond, Surrey, every year.

The factory provides work for people with disabilities and chronic illness.

There has only been one year (1968) since World War II when a British serviceman or woman has not been killed on duty.

The Legion is among the UK's largest membership organisation, with 519,000 members. Members do not have to be ex-service.